Casual House has been selling women’s clothing for more than four decades on Pioneer Way, but whether it stays in business could hinge on an Oak Harbor City Council vote next Tuesday.

“I think I’ll likely go out of business,” said owner Jill Schacht Wednesday, expressing concern about the upcoming vote. The council will be deciding whether to reconsider a 4-3 vote in December to make Pioneer Way a one-way street heading east.

While the one-way designation would allow wider, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and easier, angle-in parking, it could be a death blow to businesses. At least that’s how Schacht sees it, and she says a large majority of downtown merchants agree with her.

“I don’t expect I’d be there in two years,” she said. “I’m not sticking around for half the business, and I won’t be able to support 10 employees.”

Downtown merchants have petitioned and begged the council to reconsider the one-way decision. Scott Dudley, who joined the council this month, is against the one-way plan. Since he replaces Eric Gerber, a one-way proponent, his vote could seemingly overturn December’s decision. But nose counting isn’t always easy in politics.

As Schacht sees it, while Councilwoman Beth Munns voted against the one-way proposal, she could go the other way on a reconsideration. Also, Councilman Danny Paggao, mayor pro-tem and a stickler for proper procedures, may be reluctant to overturn a previous council decision, even though he voted against the one-way resolution.

Paggo didn’t immediately return a phone call to the News-Times.

Munns, who initially voted in favor of the two-way plan, told the News-Times Thursday that she’ll “probably reconsider.”

“We had a very extensive democratic process and we made a decision,” she said.

“Once it’s all said and done, we’re a team and we should function as a team,” she said. “Yes, I voted for the two way, but to change the vote now would be disruptive. It’s a priority to have as little disruption as humanly possible.”

Councilman Rick Almberg, a proponent for the one-way design, agrees with Munns.

“If you sabotage a vote, the public will lose confidence in you and the staff won’t trust you,” he said. “One way was the majority decision and it’s our responsibility to support that. If it had gone the other way, I would have supported that because it’s the decision of the council.”

Councilman Jim Palmer isn’t likely to deviate from his original one-way vote, either.

“I don’t understand why (Councilman Scott Dudley) is bringing this up now. I’m a little taken back because I don’t know what he has in mind,” he said.

On the other hand, Councilman Jim Campbell is sticking to his two-way guns.

“I’m a two-way person,” he said. “I haven’t seen anything that’ll change my mind.”

As for next Tuesday’s meeting, Campbell said, “We’ll just have to wait and see what comes to the conversation.”

Mayor Jim Slowik said the council will turn to Dudley and ask what he’s interested in doing. It will not be another “open forum,” he said.

“It goes in baby steps from here.”

The Oak Harbor City Council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 865 SE Barrington Dr. Review the agenda beforehand at www.oakharbor.org.

(News-Times editor Jim Larsen contributed to this story.)